There Were No Flowers: A Surgeon's Story of War, Family, and Love

by William Meffert

William Meffert is a surgeon. His father was a surgeon. And now, so is his son. Three generations familiar with incisions, blood, and loss. From World War II and Vietnam to modern operating rooms, they have all fought the battle for human life. Now, Meffert journeys with his son to chart his family’s history through the changing world of combat surgery and beyond to reveal the universal truths that connect them across generations.

As Meffert travels with his son to field hospital locations of World War II and Vietnam, they encounter detailed memories of trauma surgery, wounded soldiers, and the effects of war—a stark reminder of its cost on humankind. Throughout, Meffert meditates on the lasting impact of conflict and the pressures of a surgeon’s life, from being forced to make immediate life-or-death decisions for unknown patients, to the realities of blood and gore, to the difficulty of sharing these experiences with the uninitiated.

Linking together the individual lives of grandfather, father, and son, There Were No Flowers is a story of war, surgery, trauma, and the joys of fatherhood, family, and love in the face of it all.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Health, Medicine, Medical, War

294 pages, Paperback

Published September 27, 2022

Reviews

[Liliya]

This book isn't entirely focused on Dr. Meffert's time as a war surgeon like I thought. Only about half is about the war. The rest is his father's story and his life in the states as a surgeon. It was an interesting book but I think if you aren't genuinely interested in medicine, you won't really enjoy this. There are some graphic parts (description of the war) and some ethically questionable things he talks about (he as a child and his own children literally participating in surgery). Overall this was a quick and interesting read. It didn't change my life and I feel like I would be the same without reading it.

[Ben]

“There Were No Flowers” came to me through Net Galley in return for an honest review. Thanks to NG , the author and publisher for for the opportunity to read the book.

The book is the story of a boy, the son of a country doctor in Iowa who also becomes a doctor and of his time spent at a field hospital in Viet Nam. “ There Were No Flowers” begins with young Meffert’s formative years following his father on his rounds seeing* his devotIon and service to his patients. Watching his father do surgery in the bedroom, barns and fields for his rural, and poor , patients and seeing the way his father was treated by members of the community solidified the boy and man to do medicine. The early pages of the books recount scenes that ifixed in young William the dedication determination and fortitude he would need in medical school and in Viet-Nam.
These heartwarming chapters are in stark contrast to those gentle times. Readers should be warned that the content of what Dr. Maffert experienced serving as a surgeon in evacuation hospitals , often under fire and always under pressure are not easy to read? Indeed, they are graphic and disturbing. Descriptions of the horrible wounds the doctors saw and the extensive surgeries they performed while literally standing in puddles of blood will make anyone question sending their off children off to war. It certainly did for Doctor Waffert. He began to wonder whether is was a good idea to try to save men whose horribly mutilating wounds would forever doom them to lives of dependence.. But his oath as a doctor and courage of those injured men kept him going.
Parenthetically, I recall. a Viet Nam vet I knew, who had lost one arm and part of one leg, and most of the other. His days were filled with pain, he drank a lot and fell often. He would often laugh it off because he did not want anyone’s pity. But everyone who knew him, even a little could see the anger in his eyes.) He learned why his father like so many veterans of WW2 did not open up about their. experiences. They saw things that they knew their families could not comprehend.
The final chapters recount how the author accompanied by his son returned to Viet-Nam , saw again where the field hospital was located, now a four lane highway. He speaks warmly of the Vietnamese he met and they , like he, were filled with sorrow that so many soldiers suffered and died for reasons that overwhelmed humanity.
The author is a medical man and not an author, so the writing os often inelegant, though certainly heartfelt. There are repetitive moments in different chapters. But all the book is very much worth reading,
This is a moving book and very much worth reading. It is not easy reading, though and once again, I warn of the graphic detail that will stay with the reader long after the book is finished.

[Lyn McBride]

Having worked with Dr Meffert in ICU early days, most interested in his story. I found the book to be most intriguing in many ways. His review of his father's life as a surgeon and his time In WW II doing surgery. Also the relationship of him with his father. His questions on how he was raised and what things he learned from his dad that spilled over to what he accomplished, and more importantly how he endured his time in Vietnam. Dr Meffert view of the war itself, and his thoughts about working on the civilians and Viet Cong while there, and other aspects. It is a story about blood, lots of it. Learning to think quickly and act decisively to save lives. . Even new ways of opening a heart mitral valve without a bypass machine. As a nurse can understand all the perils that he faced every day and night in surgery. Also he questions of faith and prayer in his life. The sweet part was that his son now goes with him as they retrace his dad's journey and his journey to Vietnam at the physical sites of hospitals they served in.

[Lady]

This was a very interesting story. I loved every minute of this book. It was so well wrote and flowed so well. What I loved so much about this book was how the author was brought up. His father was a doctor and started him early by allowing him to watch his surgeries from a very young age. The surgeons explained everything as they went along. This was fascinating and I don't think I would be able to do that. The majority of this book covers the authors service in the medical core during the Vietnam War. It was very interesting that back in the day some procedures had not even been preformed. Wars seem to advance medical procedures as they will try anything to save their patients. It was amazing to read how many times he had to think on his feet. This was very exciting and I definitely recommend reading this book. Especially if you love autobiographies about surgeons during wars or even those who love learning history of the Vietnam and what to find out what it was like being a surgeon during this time. This is definitely a real page turning story that you will find difficult to put down.
Only the highest of praise goes out to the author and publishers for bringing us this wonderful, shocking and very interesting story. I would definitely read more books by this author and I would like to thank him for his service.

[Dogeared]

As someone else said, I feel this would have benefitted from further editing… it starts with a visit to the grandfather’s war location in Europe and his son (the author) says that when *his* own son suggested visiting Vietnam for the same reasons, he didn’t want to relive that. Then we go into his childhood, his own military career in Vietnam, back to civilian career, and finish with a repeat of the visit to Europe (not sure why?) and finally a visit to Vietnam which he hadn’t wanted to do but must have changed his mind.

It was interesting to read about combat surgery and what it was like to live through fighting a war abroad, as well as some of the injuries he had to deal with. Also to see about rural life back in the 1940s when he was growing up (and at one point as a child, helping to pour ether over a patient being operated on!).

I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review. Apologies for the delay in providing this.

[Kathryn Bochman]

There Were No Flowers by William Meffert is a book that caught my attention from the start. It is a tale brimming with not only the horrors of war, but the generational connection between father and son, the fight to overcome trauma, and the ability of the human soul to love. This book is an honest and poignant look into a time period we frequently only hear about in a history textbook. Meffert brings to life the entire spectrum of his war experience – the battle wounds and the wounded themselves. I could not help but be mesmerized by his experiences and insights into humanity during a time that tested one’s soul to the edge.

I received this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

[Ralph Plagman]

I read this book because it was a selection of my book club. It is a self-published memoir, but it is one of the most powerful books that I have read in recent memory. Dr. Meffert spent a year as a battlefield hospital surgeon in Vietnam, and his experiences there dominate the book. If there is any remaining doubt about the folly of America’s involvement in the Vietnam War, Meffert erases that doubt. The politicians who supported America’s involvement should be required to read There Were No Flowers.

[Gail Murphy]

A Man I Once Knew

I worked in the ICU in Iowa when Dr Wm Meffert was doing those complicated surgeries. There was no other doctor I wanted to impress or please. He was tough and demanding as he described but he was also the surgeon I wanted to operate on my dad. This book gave me a much deeper understanding of the man I admired and a gut-wrenching but honest picture of the Vietnam War. Looking good Dr. Meffert.

[Jennichole Arnold Arbucci]

I highly recommend everyone reading this memoir. I thought this book was raw and truthful, with a little humor here and there.
William made his stories come to life like I was there with him.
His story is about family, war and love. His experiences as a surgeon in the war, before the war growing up and after.

[Diane Ploussard]

Amazing book and tough stories

I didn't cry until I read the last pages.
The doctor is a great writer and an even better person for all he has experienced during his lifetime.
It was hard to put down as I waited for the next tragedy or success..

[Wendy Kremer Manning]

I was a young nurse back when Dr. Meffert was practicing in Cedar Rapids. I worked on Telemetry and took care of many of his patients before heart surgery. I remember being in awe of him. I enjoyed this book and learning more about him.

[Bryanna]

This book tells some incredible stories. Dr. Meffert pulls no punches and softens no blows. I appreciate that. However, his voice is often matter-of-fact. I suppose that is the soldier/surgeon in him. There is a lot to be read in the between the lines of what he is saying which can elevate the reading experience.

This book suffers from an editing issue. For one thing, Dr. Meffert makes a lot of small points about family, war, and medicine, but there is very little throughline. It starts with a trip, totally forgets about it for 70% of the book and then picks it up again. I wish the theme of family was not so frequently lost as there is poignancy to what it truly means to him based on the stories he tells. The end also needed editing as it is VERY redundant with the midportion of the book. He summarizes way too much. The last 30 pages were honestly some of the least engaging in the whole novel when it should have been the time for him to illustrate his final points.

[John]

I just finished this excellent book, a good deal of which talks of combat surgery, though it is much more than that. Bill Meffert comes across with a positive characterization of himself, but it’s deserved. I was on the same medical staff with Meffort for more than two decades; he was indeed an exceptional surgeon. In fact he and the “other Yale surgeon” had outcome statistics for coronary bypass, valve repair/replace, and combined bypass/valve that were in the top 1% of all programs in the country. I certainly would have made sure is was they who operated on me should I have ever had the need. Clyde Meffert, Bill’s father, was in the 105th hospital near Bastogne in WWII. Bill was in the 95th evacuation hospital at Da Nang about the same time many of my friends and relatives were in country. He discusses not only combat surgery, but family, aging, and his philosophical retrospective reflections on war in general. I’m sure those of your who were in country and he could have meaningful discussions. I highly recommend this book to your “to be read” list.